Air-compressor.



m" AILABLE cram:

. S. B. HILL.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, l9l5- 1 ,203,335 Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR Stirling 5. Hill M m M m ATTORNEY S. B. HILL.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I, 19l5.

Patented Oct. 31,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i i O 6 o g 33 M .26 {a 24 25 r 19 22 2 6 62/ '23 l. II I WlT/VESSES: 7 3 INVENTOR Stirling 5 Hill W A TTUR/VEY STIRLING B. BILL, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

AIR-COMPRESSOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed June 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,330.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STIRLING B. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Nashington, have invented a certain new and use ful Improvement in Air-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hydraulic air-compressors and the object of my improvements is to provide a hydraulic air-compressor which shall be adapted to operate to force air into a storage reservoir, within which it is desired to maintain a quantity of compressed air, in response to the action of water conducted into the structure through pipesfrom an elevated source, which water is permitted intermittently to escape from said structure by the action of operative parts thereof; and a further object of my improvement is to provide such an air compressor with means which shall be adapted to cool the air compressed by it to such degree that such air as it enters the storage reservoir may not be excessively heated. I accomplish these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein I Figure l is a plan view of a hydraulic aircompressor embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the same in horizontal crosssection on broken line a, a" of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a view in vertical mid-section on broken line 3 y of Fig. 1. 7

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, two hollow cylinders 5 and 6 are supported in an upright position adjacent to each other by a hollow base portion 7 whose bottom wall 8 is of rectangular form as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. The bottom end of the interior space of each of the cylinders 5 and 6 opens into acircular chamber, as the chambers 9 and 10, respectively, and extending around the walls of which chambers 9 and 10 are exterior chambers 11 r and 12 all of which chambers 9, 10, 11 and 12 are formed in the base portion 7, the

exterior chambers 11 and 12 being separated from each other by a horizontal partition 13.

Adjacent to the top surface of the partition 13 are ports 14c through which water may flow from chamber 11 into the chamher 9 and like ports 15 through which water may flow from chamber 11 into chamber 10; and adjacent to the bottom surface of the -partition 13 are similar ports 16 and 17 through which water may flow from chambers 9 and 10 into chamber 12.

The top ends of cylinders 5 and 6 are covered respectively by cylinder heads 18 and 19, within which cylinder heads are formed annular chambers 20 and 21, respectively, and the interior spaces of the cylinders 5 and communicate respectively with the chambers 20 and 21 through passageways controlled respectively by outlet check valves 22 and 23 which may permit air to pass only in the direction from the cylinders 5 and 6 into the respective annular chambers 20 and 21. Leading from the chambers 20 and 21 are pipes 24 and 25, respectively which connect with a -Y fitting 26 that connects with a pipe 27 (as more clearly shown in F 1) which pipe 27 may lead to and connect with a storage reservoir for compressed air, not shown.

Bolted to the top surface of the cylinder heads 18 and 19 is an A shaped bracket 28 upon which is pivotally mounted a walking beam 29 whose opposite end portions are articulated with one end of a connecting link, as links 50 and 30, the lower end of the link 50 being pivotally connected with the top end of a rod 31 which extends vertically downward through the cylinder 5 into the chamber 9 and upon the lower end portion of said rod 31 is fixed a slide-valve 32 of the form of a spoked wheel, theperiphery of whose rim may serve in an obvious manner to open and, close the ports 141 and 16 in response to vertical movements of the rod 31. The lower end of the link is pivotally connected with a rod 33 which is disposed to extend downwardly through the center of the cylinder head 19 and through the cylinder 6 into the chamber 10 and on its lower end portion is fixed a slide-valve 341, similar to the slide-valve 32, which slidevalve 34: serves to open and close ports 15 and 17 in response to vertical movements of the rod 33.

Connected with the chamber 11 is a pipe 35, as shown in Fig. 1, which may extend to an elevated source of water not shown, through which pipe 35 water may flow into the chamber 11 through a passageway 36; and the chamber 12 is provided with a flanged outlet passageway 37, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which may be connected with a downwardly extended waste pipe, not shown, to produce a siphon effect thereby to facilitate emptying the chamber 12.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, inlet checkvalves 38 and 39 of well known form are provided in the walls of cylinders 5 and 6,

respectively, at points near the upperendi 1, whose convolutions are spaced apart to permit water to rise and fall in the spaces therebetween. The walking-beam 29 is provided with a heavily weighted arm 13 which projects upwardly from 'the central portion thereof at right angles thereto, as shown in Fig. 3. Slid'ably mounted on each of the shafts 31 and 33 between fixed collars within the respective cylinders 5 and 6 at corresponding points between the top ends of the coils 4:1 and 42 and the cylinder heads 18 and 19, respectively, is a hollow fioat, as floats 4e and l5, respectively, as shown more clearlyin Fig. 3. I

The operation of my hydraulic air-compressor maybe described asfollows: Water 7 from an elevated source is admitted into the chamber 11 through pipe 35 and ,(the slide valves 32 and 3% being in positions shown in Fig. 3) such water will then flow through the ports 14 into the chamber 9 to rise therefrom into the cylinder 5 to fill said cylinder 5, and the water as it rises will drive the air within said cylinder 5 into the annular chamber 20 through the check-valve 22, from which chamber 20 the air may pass into the storage reservoir, not shown, through pipe 27, the check-valve 38 being closed.

be raised untilit enters the closely fitting recess in the. lower side of the cylinder head 18 whereupon it will engage with the upper collar .Oll tll rod 31 and lift said rod 31 to close the port 1% and open the port 16 and to actuate the walking-beam 29 to force the rod33 downwardlyto open the port15 and close the port 17, the weighted arm 43, after passing the vertical line through its pivot in its travel to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, serving to aid: in forcingthe rod 33 downwardly; whereupon the water in the cylinder 5 will. escape through the ports 16 into the annular chame ber 12 and thence through the outlet passageway 37 'with the consequence that the check-valve 22 Y will be closed while the cheer-valve 38 will beopened so that air may pass into the cylinder 5 through the check-valve 38 to. replace the water emptied therefrom; and then water will be admitted from the chamber 11 through the ports 15 into the cylinder 6 to rise therein until it reaches the fioat 45 to raise it to move the rod 33 upwardly to actuate the walking beam 29 to force the rod 31 downwardly When, the water in its upward, course, reaches the fioat -14 said float 44: will again-to its position shown in Fig. 3 with the result that theairwhich was contained in cylinder 6 will have been forced into the storage reservoir through the pipe 27 and the water in said cylinder 6 may then escape through, the passageway 17 into the chamber 12 and out of the outlet 37 and in an obvious manner like operations will be effected continuously so long as water is admitted into the chamber 11'. and 42 of sheet .metal, being, alternately exposed to contact with water and air, are cooled by the water thus to present a cool surface to the air, as such air is being compressedby the rising water, to cool such air which otherwise would become much hotter by reason of its compression. Thus in an obvious manner, air is compressed and forced into astorage reservoir through the pipe 35 alternately from cylinders 5a'nd 6 such cylinders 5 and 6 being alternately filled and emptied in the manner described; the flow of water into and through the structure being continuous but varying in rate of flow, with tlie result that air, in volume equal to water, may be compressed to a greater pressure than the static head of water.

Manifestly, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of parts of my invention without departing from'the spirit; thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a hydraulic air compressor of the class described, the combination withtwo" hollow cylinders disposed vertically and parallel with. each other, of a hollow base upon which said cylinders are securely supported, said hollow base being provided with two circular chambers disposed one beneath.

each of said cylinders and connected with the interior space thereof, and'being further provided with two exterior chambers separated by a horizontal partition and disposed to surround both of said circular chambers;

an inlet assa ewa for conductin water into tl e uppe r one ofsaid exterior chambers, an outlet passageway for conducting water out from the lower one of said exterior chambers; inlet ports through: which 7 water may flow from the upper one of said exterior. v chambers into both of said two circular chambers; outlet ports through The coils 41 which waterl mayfiow from both of said circular chambers into the, lower one of said exterior chambers; a slidable valve disposed within each of said circular cham:

bers and adaptedto open and close the ports thereof;. an inlet check-valve disposed in tlie upper end portio-nof the wall ofeach of saidcylinders through whichairmay be,

admitted into said cylinders, a hollow cylinderuhead secured to the top of each, of said cylinders; a check-valve disposed in the bottom wall of'each of said cylinder heads through which air may pass into the space therewithin; means for conducting air from the space within each of said hollow cylinder heads; two rods, each attached to a different one of said slidable valves and disposed to extend upwardly to and through said cylinder heads to project upwardly therefrom; spaced convolutions of sheet metal supported within each of said cylinders in a position to surround that one of said rods therein; a float slidably secured to each of said rods at a point between said sheet metal and the adjacent cylinder head; a pivotally supported walking-beam; and links connecting the ends of said walkingbeam with the upwardly projecting ends of said rods whereby an upward movement of either of said rods will communicate a downward movement to the other thereof.

2. A hydraulic air compressor of the class described which embodies a hollow base provided with two circular chambers and two exterior chambers separated by a horizontal partition and disposed to surround both of said circular chambers, the upper one of said exterior chambers having an inlet passageway for water and the lower one having an outlet passageway for water; ports for admitting water from the upper one of said exterior chambers into both of said circular chambers; ports for admitting water from both of said circular chambers into the lower one of said exterior chambers; and a slide-valve disposed in each of said circular chambers and adapted to be vertically movable to open and close said ports thereof.

3. A. hydraulic air compressor of the class described which embodies a hollow base provided with two circular chambers and two exterior chambers separated by a horizontal partition and disposed to surround both of said circular chambers, the upper one of Copies of this patent may be obtained for five said exterior chambers having an inlet passageway for water and the lower one having an outlet passageway for water; ports for admitting water from the upper one of said exterior chambers into both of said circular chambers; ports for admitting water from both of said circular chambers into the lower one of said exterior chambers; a slide-valve disposed in each of said circular chambers and adapted to be vertically movable to open and close said ports thereof, two hollow cylinders disposed on said hollow base, each directly over a different one of said circular chambers with its interior space communicating therewith; a hollow cylinder head covering the top of each of said cylinders; a check-valve for admitting air into the upper portion of the interior space of each of said cylinders; and checkvalves for admitting air from each of said cylinders into the space within its cylinder head.

4. A hydraulic air compressor of the class described, which embodies a hollow baseprovided with two circular chambers and an exterior chamber disposed to surround both of said circular chambers, said exterior chamber having an inlet passageway for water; ports for admitting water from said exterior chamber into both of said circular chambers; ports for permitting water to escape from both of said circular chambers; and a slide-valve disposed in each of said circular chambers and adapted to be vertically movable to open and close said ports thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of May, A. D. 1915.

STIRLING B. HILL.

Witnesses:

- A. HAsKINs,

MAY ARCHER.

cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C, 

